Mechanisms of Coping with Recurrent Droughts: A Case of Livestock Farmers in Murang'a Sub-County, Murang'a County, Kenya

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Abstract

One third of the African people live in drought prone areas. Drought is the most limiting
factor in agricultural production in Sub Saharan Africa. The disaster is exacerbated by
lack of adequate coping mechanisms which is often disaster response rather than
prevention. A case study on drought coping mechanisms was conducted among
livestock farmers in Murang'a South Sub-County of Murang'a County in central Kenya.
The purpose of the study was to determine the strategies used by livestock farmers to
cope with recurrent droughts. The objectives were: to find out how livestock farmers in
the study area perceive drought, to identify the effects of drought, to find out how
livestock farmers counteract the problem of drought to reduce vulnerability and to
determine the constraints faced by the livestock farmers in their attempt to cope with
drought. Descriptive survey research design was used. Stratified random sampling was
applied to select a sample of two hundred households. The primary sampling unit was an
individual household. Data was collected by administering a semi-structured
questionnaire to two hundred livestock farmers. Data on perception of drought,
preparation in readiness for drought, the effects of droughts on livestock farmers and
their households as well as their strategies in responses to disturbances and changes
during drought were investigated. The factors exacerbating vulnerability were also
investigated. The generated data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS.
Descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequencies were used to summarize the
data which was presented using tabulations, histograms and pie charts. The relationships
between the variables were analyzed by the Chi- square non parametric test. Findings of
the study revealed that majority (98.5%) of the livestock farmers' perceived drought as a
serious environmental hazard regardless of their gender and education level. Majority
(71%) of the livestock farmers experienced death of their livestock during drought.
Other major effects of drought included; food and water scarcity and increase in
absenteeism of children from school. There was a negative relationship between farmers'
education level and death of animals during drought (chi- square test df =4, p<0.05
(14.909). To cope with drought, the farmers sought alternative employment, received
government assistance and engaged in casual labour. Some of the measures used to cope
with drought differed significantly across education level. The major constraints faced
by the livestock farmers in their attempt to cope with drought were Iow value of
livestock, poverty, pests and diseases, and high prices of foodstuffs. From the study, it
was concluded that, livestock farmers in Murang'a South Sub-County were not coping
with drought in a sustainable way as their sufferings were substantial. Based on the
study findings, with the frequency and intensity of drought there is need for effective
capacity building on drought, its signals and sustainable coping strategies to reduce
vulnerability. Dissemination of information on adverse climate should be done to the
livestock farmers in good time to enable them make early preparations. Further research
is suggested on assessment of the best ways of linking farmers to markets during
drought to reduce losses.